Head Of State (2003, C. Rock)

From AllMovieGuide.Com:

Plot Synopsis by Mark Deming
Can a high-attitude African-American politician who says what he thinks stand a chance in a presidential campaign? Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock) is a straight-talking alderman representing a inner-city neighborhood in Washington, D.C. In the midst of a hard-fought race for the White House, the Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates are killed in an airline crash, and with little time to prepare a new campaign, the Republican candidate, Vice President Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy), seems all but guaranteed to win. With practically nothing to loose, party head Martin Geller (Dylan Baker) approaches Gilliam and asks him to stand as the Democrat's presidential candidate. While Gilliam is dubious at first, before long his streetwise style and willingness to face the issues head-on earns him surprising figures in the polls, especially after he persuades his short-fused older brother, Mitch Gilliam (Bernie Mac), to join the ticket as vice presidential candidate -- a big jump for a bail bondsman. Gilliam's love life also becomes more complicated as his ex-girlfriend Kim (Robin Givens) decides she wants him back now that he has a shot at the White House, even though Gilliam only has eyes for Lisa (Tamala Jones). Head of State marked the directorial debut for comic and actor Chris Rock, who also co-wrote and co-produced the film.

With Rock's up and down film career, I hoped that his directorial debut would play to his strengths. His politcal/topical humor is amongst his strongest in his stand-up routines and "Head Of State"'s subject matter seemed the perfect vehicle. I wonder went wrong.

It's not to say that the film is bad or unfunny. Because its watchable and has very funny jokes and performances. I was expecting a different plot to the movie (my own fault) and it that lies some of my disapointment. I thought the movie would be about Rock being an actual black president and running things. The film is actually about him running forpresident. Rock says in the commentary that he wanted the film to have a real "campy feel" like Putney Swope, but is neither as biting or as surreal as Downey Sr.'s film. Rock's trademark humor may have been tampered by the studio a little bit (his 2007 interview with Elvis Mitchell alluded to a bit of that), but I do not know for sure.

His running for president plot is where the movie misfires. The opposing candidate is not very threatening. Especially throughout the begining of the race as he refuses to debate Gilliam (Rock). Gilliam and Mitch, his vice-presidential candidate, resort to ambushing Lewis with the press in tow, in order to get him to debate. You would think a seasoned politician (a Vice President!) would relish the oppurtunity to debate an inexperienced alderman. Whatever, plot mechanics...



What was fun about watching this film, was seeing how things Rock and co. wrote about that have seemed to pop up in the current political election. The main argument that the opposing Lewis' campaign has against Gilliam is that he's "inexperienced". Magazine covers show his face with the questions: Are We Ready? Is He Ready? These would be fairly obvious similarities to what Barack Obama has been facing, given the subject matter of the movie, but I was suprised to see a lot more similarities. Gilliam, as an alderman, was dealing with a lot of inner city and lower income people and families. Obama started out doing the same. Lewis is a war hero, as is John McCain. Gilliam's "That Ain't Right" seems to be a more outraged cattle call version of Obama's "Yes We Can!"

But most of all, Rock's message of the film, is being practiced by Obama currently. With "Head Of State", I believe that Rock is trying to say that the people of American wants a president that is going to talk to them like grown-ups and actually listen to what the people have to say. Once Gilliam starts using "his own voice" in his speeches, his approval goes through the roof. Obama's recent speech on race was a real-life example of this, and proves that we have a candidate that shares Rock's hope. That we can have a president talk to us about very sensitive issues, without talking down to us, but inspiring people with the words to actually try to do something different with life.